Zakat Forum: Direct Charity Risks Perpetuating Poverty
The Chairman of the Zulpakat Forum (FOZ), Wildhan Dewayana, believes that the public tendency to distribute alms in cash or directly to recipients should not be viewed solely through the lens of the nominal amount given. According to him, the distribution of religious social funds through zakat institutions carries a much larger mission: to create transformation and eradicate poverty.
Wildhan stated that the results of the 2026 National ZISWAF Survey conducted by Indikator Politik Indonesia, which shows that the majority of the public prefers direct almsgiving, should serve as a basis for evaluation for stakeholders in the Islamic philanthropy sector.
“What is most important is how we respond. The public possesses a high level of generosity, and there is great potential there. It is possible that the level of literacy and education regarding zakat, infaq, and sadaqah still needs to be increased,” Wildhan said when met in Jakarta on Friday (12/6/2026).
The Indikator Politik Indonesia survey previously found that 95.9 per cent of Indonesian Muslims who give infaq or sadaqah in the form of money do not use digital platforms. The majority still choose to distribute it directly.
According to Wildhan, this phenomenon could be caused by a low public understanding of the roles and programmes implemented by zakat institutions. Factors regarding trust in these institutions are also believed to influence public choices.
“It is possible that the public is not yet aware of the existence of zakat institutions, or they are aware but do not yet understand the programmes being run. It could also relate to the level of trust,” he added.
Nevertheless, Wildhan emphasised that distributing zakat, infaq, and sadaqah through zakat institutions enables the realisation of empowerment missions that are difficult to achieve individually.
He noted that zakat is not merely about the amount of money provided, but about the impact generated on the lives of the mustahik, or the beneficiaries.